Variable Interest Entities - Assets and liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Dec. 31, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 205,693	$ 135,033
Prepaid expenses, tax credits and other current assets		139,845	104,068
Total current assets		1,477,484	1,786,965
Property, plant, and equipment, net		866,329	1,436,177
Total assets	[1]	3,602,846	4,902,738
Liabilities
Accounts payable		180,966	257,828
Accrued expenses		103,145	200,544
Total current liabilities		748,489	964,800
Equity
Equity		1,807,756	2,898,125	$ 4,060,214	$ 4,605,696
Total stockholders' equity		1,807,756	2,898,125	$ 4,060,214	$ 4,605,696
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity		3,602,846	4,902,738
Variable interest entities
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents		667
Prepaid expenses, tax credits and other current assets		242
Total current assets		909
Property, plant, and equipment, net		147,696
Total non-current assets		147,696
Total assets		148,605	0
Liabilities
Accounts payable		1,340
Accrued expenses		27
Total current liabilities		1,367	$ 0
Equity
Equity		147,238
Total stockholders' equity		147,238
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity		$ 148,605

[1] ^(A)Includes balances associated with a consolidated variable interest entity (“VIE”), including amounts reflected in “total assets” that can only be used to settle obligations of the VIE of $148,605 and $0 as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, as well as liabilities of the VIE reflected within “total liabilities” for which creditors do not have recourse to the general credit of Plug Power Inc. of $1,367 and $0 as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Refer to Note 28, “Variable Interest Entities”, for additional information.